Crane trolley



Feb. 7, 1933.

H. w. BALL CRANE TROLLEY Filed Dec. 19, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 MMV QZM/c H. W. BALL CRANE TROLLEY Feb. 7, 1933.

5 Sheets-Sheet I 2 Filed Dec. 19, 1931 A I J QaX H. W. BALL CRANE TROLLEY Feb. 7, 1933.

Filed Dec. 19, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet I HARVEY .W. BALL, or-ALIiIANoE, on'r'o. Assrenon 'r o THE ORGAN EN I NE ERI N corr- Patented Feb. 7, 1933 r 1 UNITED PATENT--IOFF I'CEL,

1 many, or ALLIANCE, orrro, A oonrorm'rron v A cama- 'rnorinnY Application filed December 19, 1981. Serial No. 582,113.

This invention relates to. improvements crane trolleys, and more part cularly *toa speed reducing device to'be used inside the hoist drum of such a'trolley inplace of'lthe train, allow thetrolley to be so designedas'tov lower its height, and permit the trolley to approach closer to both 'sidesand ends of building.

A further object is to provide a crane trolley which is smaller and lighter than those heretofore known and which can be readily lubricated.

A further object is to make possible much higher lifts in much less space for hoist than would be required for the usual trolley of equal lift and capacity.

Another object is to furnish a crane trolley in which the gears of the reducing mechanism is housed, thus eliminating the use of exposed gears.

With the foregoing objects outlined and with other objects in View which will appear as the description proceeds, theinvention consists in the novel features hereinafter described in detail, illustrated in the accom panying drawings, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, 7 r

Fig. 1 is a topplan view of the improved trolley. c

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view on the line 22 of Fig. 1. 7

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view of the crane drum taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of v the drum.

Referring to the drawings, 5 designates the frame of the improved crane trolley which has wheels 6 that run on the usual rails, not shown. Two of these wheels are mounted on an axle 7 which is driven by a motor 8 through a suitable train of gearing .arranged in a housing 9.

In accordance with the present invention,

large gear trains, and allows the trolley to. be

the crane drumlf) is of hollowformation one of its ends ll rot-atesupon a stationary shaft 12 which. is'keye'd to a suitable support 13. 'A rotatable shaft ld-EXtGIlClS through'a rotatable trunnion15 at the other endof'the drum, andthe trunnion is mounted in as'uitable bearing 16. Theshaft l4 v is driven by any suitable prime moversuch as an electric motor 17. The shaft 14 is provided with .012)- anti-friction bearings'22 on which. there is a ring 23that is pivotallyzconnected asshown.

at .24,=to the inner. ends of radially movable plungers 25- These plungers slide in La plunger holder 26 which is fixed to the sta tionary shaft b'y'means of'bolts or the, like 27. The outer ends of the plungers are pointed Eand they cooperate with a" circular series of rack teeth 28 cut ina hollow cylinder 29, which preferably forms an integral part ofthedr'um.

a Inioperation, the shaft-14. in rotating, will cause its eccentrics 18 topushthe plungers 25 radially outwardin theplunger holder26. As the plungers are;pushed radiallyoutward," their; pointed ends engage on the angleislopes of the rack teeth 28, thereby forcing-the drum 7 10 forward but rotating it at aislowerspeed thanthatofthe shaftl f. ,The-iitction ofthe ciprocate radially, and their pointed- 'endsact as feet to rotate the drum 10. 1 The advantages of this type ,ofhoistjare that it does awaywiththe usual costly. and

oflessaheight in order that it may approach a closer to both the, runway: and -bridgerails.

Furthermore, the; trolley isssmaller,;. lighter and can be 1 readily lubricated, and at the same'time, all exposed gears are avoided',this

being an added safety feature v From th foregoing it is gbelieved that the construction, operation} and advantages of "the invention may be readilyunderstoodby those skilled in the art, audit isapparen t il that changes may be made in the details disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention, as expressed in the claims.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A crane trolley including a prime mover having a shaft, a rotatable crane drum, a stationary plunger holder, a ring within the plunger holder, me anson the shaft for moving the ring in an eccentric path, plungerspivotally connected to the'ring'and slidable in said holder, and a circular rack having teeth engaged by the plungers during radial connected. 1

3. A crane trolley including a prime mover having a shaft, a rotatable crane drum, a stationary. plunger holder, a, ring Within the plunger holder, means on the shaft. for moving the ring in an eccentric path, plungers 6. In combination, a rotatable shaft, a 1'0- tatable crane drum, a stationary plunger holder positioned within the drum and having radially disposed bores, a ring within the plunger holder, means on the shaft for moving the ring in an eccentric path, plungers pivotally connected to the ring and slidable in the bores of the holder, and a circular rack fixed to the drum and having teeth engaged by the plungers during radial reciprocation of the latter for causing rotation of the drum. "7.In an apparatus of the character described, a stationary shaft having a hearing at one end thereof, a driving shaft having oneof its endszmounted in said bearing, a hoisting drum mounted on said shafts, the driving shaft-having an eccentric arranged Within the drum, a ring surrounding'theeccentric and actuated by the latter, plungers pivotally connected to said ring, a stationary holder having bores in which the plungers are movable radially, means rigidly uniting said holder with the stationary shaft, and a circular toothed rack arranged within and fixed to the drum and engaged by the plungers for transmitting movement from the driving shaft to the drum.

In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification. V 1 v 7 I J HARVEY W. BALL.

pivotally connected to the ring and slidable in said holder, a circular rack having teeth V engaged by the plungers during radial reciprocation of the latterv for causingrotatlon of the drum, and a stationary shaft for'the drum provided with a cavity, the prime mover shaft extending into said cavity and being partially supported by the stationary shaft.

4. In an apparatus of the character described, a driving shaft, a stationary shaft,

a hoisting drum mounted on said shafts, the

driving shaft-having an eccentric arranged within the drum, a ring surrounding the ec.-

centric and actuated by the eccentric, ,plung.-

ers pivotallyconnected to. said ring, a sta- I tionary holder in which the plungers move radially, and a circular toothed rack arranged in the drum andengaged by the plungers for transmitting movement to the drum from the driving shaft.

v 5. In an apparatus of the class-described, a stationary shaft, 'a driving -shaft coaxial therewith,"one end of one shaft extending into one end of the other shaft and being supported by the latter, an eccentric on the driving shaft, a ring actuated by the eccentric, a plungerholder' fixed to the'stationary shaft, radially movable plungers slidable in said holderand pivotally connected to said ring, said eccentric, ring and plunger-holder being arranged within the drum, and a circular toothed-rack in the drum actuated by said plungers. Y 

